NEWCASTLE chiefs have given a staggering 17 million reasons why they will not be signing Nicky Butt.

The Magpies are reported to be in talks with the England midfielder, 28.

But HOTLINE can reveal that Butt's wage demands have wrecked a deal.

Newcastle DID ask, but were told Butt's fee and salary would cost them £17million in total.

The England midfielder wants a five-year contract to match his current £45,000-a-week deal at Manchester United, who have agreed to a transfer request.

On top of that, his club want a £5million transfer fee for a player who cost them nothing. A high-ranking Toon source told the SP: "We don't necessarily need the player anyway and we will not be going anywhere near him at that price.

"We suspect he will still be at Old Trafford in the summer and then he will have to rethink his demands."

Middlesbrough, Spurs, Everton and Birmingham have all been linked but they too could be priced out.

Reports in Spain last night suggested that David Beckham has urged Real Madrid to move for his former United pal. At least then Butt's demands would not be a problem, at a club where they are willing to pay out wages in excess of £100,000-a-week to their stars.

Butt has told friends he will not consider a move to London at any cost - so that kills any hope Spurs had, even if they were prepared to come up with the cash.

PROMOTION-CHASING Sheffield United want to take Portsmouth midfielder Carl Robinson on loan for the rest of the campaign.

DION DUBLIN is an ambitious target for Rangers - hoping they can snatch the versatile defender/striker when his contract expires at Aston Villa in the summer.

Rangers are ready to offer Dublin, 34, a three-year deal worth around £15,000-a-week.

While he is on more than that right now, he might only get a new one-year deal to stay at Villa.

Rangers will wait until the summer but would prefer an answer, one way or the other, before the current transfer deadline.